Convert WebM to text
Upload a WebM recording from a browser or screen recorder and get an editable, timestamped transcript.
Turn WebM into text
- Upload the WebM file as it is, whether it holds video or only audio.
- Choose the spoken language and start the transcription.
- Play the recording beside the transcript and fix any errors.
- Export text or subtitle files.
About WebM files
- What it is
- An open container based on Matroska, designed for the web. Video is VP8, VP9 or AV1; audio is Vorbis or Opus.
- Typical source
- Browser-based recorders, Chrome and Firefox screen capture tools, and web apps that record from the microphone.
- Audio-only WebM
- A .webm file can contain only audio. Voice recorders built on web technology often save this way.
- Maximum file size
- Up to 5 GB per file.
- Free plan length
- Free files longer than 30 minutes are cut: only the first 30 minutes are transcribed.
WebM is the format the web made for itself. When a site records your microphone or captures your screen inside the browser, the result is almost always a WebM file, because browsers can write it without any extra software. If you have ever downloaded a recording from an online tool and wondered about the extension, this is the one.
That origin explains the quirks. Browser recordings are written as a stream, so the file sometimes has no duration stored in its header. Players may show a length of zero or let you scrub only roughly. The sound is still intact, and the transcript is built from the audio, so you can ignore the missing metadata unless the timestamps in the editor seem to disagree with playback.
A format for voice notes
Because WebM can be audio only, it often holds short voice notes, interview clips from web recorders and dictation. These are small files and transcribe quickly. Treat them as you would an MP3: listen first, and make sure the speaker was close to the microphone.
Questions
Where do WebM files come from?
Mostly from web tools. A browser records the microphone or screen and saves the result as WebM, which is why you meet it in online meeting and voice note tools.
Can Scribewren read a WebM with no video?
Yes. Audio-only WebM files upload like any other recording.
My WebM has no duration shown in my player. Will it work?
Recordings made in a browser sometimes lack duration metadata. The audio is still there. If timestamps look off, re-save the file with a tool such as ffmpeg.
Can I turn the transcript into subtitles?
Yes. Export SRT or VTT. Review timing and line breaks before you publish.
How long are files kept?
Originals are deleted within 24 hours. A playback copy stays for 7 days on Free or 90 days on Unlimited.
Try it on your own recording
Free includes a few transcriptions a day. No card needed. Compare plans.
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